Frequently Asked Questions

Cost depends on scope, access, cabinetry and benchtop choices. A makeover that keeps the existing layout sits well below a full rebuild with custom joinery and structural change. We give you an itemised written quote after a measure-up so you can see exactly where the budget goes before any work starts.

A typical full kitchen renovation runs about 6 to 12 weeks from contract to handover. Cabinetry and stone fabrication take roughly 4 to 6 weeks of lead time, then on-site work is usually 2 to 4 weeks for install, plumbing, electrical and tiling, followed by finishing. A straight makeover is faster.

For a major domestic building contract over $10,000 a written contract is required under the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995. The contract sets out scope, price, dates, payment stages and the variations process. You can confirm the current thresholds at consumer.vic.gov.au and vba.vic.gov.au. We work to a written, fixed-scope contract on every project.

In Victoria, domestic building insurance is required on residential building work where the cost is above the current threshold (commonly cited at $16,000). It protects you if the builder cannot complete or rectify the work. Your contract and certificate of insurance set this out in writing. Check the live figure at vba.vic.gov.au.

Engineered stone with 1% or more crystalline silica was banned for manufacture, supply, processing and installation across Australia from 1 July 2024 under the model WHS Regulations administered by Safe Work Australia. We install low-silica alternatives instead: porcelain and sintered stone, natural granite or marble, solid timber, stainless steel, laminate, or low-silica engineered stone under 1% crystalline silica.

Yes. Engineered stone benchtops installed before 1 July 2024 are grandfathered and do not need to be replaced. If we remove or modify an existing stone top during a renovation, the work is carried out using silica-safe procedures in line with Safe Work Australia guidance.

A like-for-like kitchen update usually does not need a building permit, but anything that moves walls, alters structure, or changes plumbing and drainage may. Heritage-overlay properties can have extra controls. We confirm what your job needs at the design stage and arrange the right permits and registered trades before work begins.

Yes. A full kitchen renovation includes licensed plumbing and electrical work, and we coordinate those registered trades as part of the project so the sequence runs cleanly. You receive the compliance certificates for that work on completion.

Yes, and Eastern Melbourne has many of them. We renovate kitchens in Edwardian, Californian bungalow and interwar homes across suburbs like Camberwell, Kew and Surrey Hills, balancing original cornices, timber and proportions with a modern, functional workspace.

Yes. For units and apartments we plan around lift access, parking limits, body-corporate rules and protection of common areas. We confirm delivery and rubbish-removal logistics up front so the build does not stall on access.

A makeover keeps your existing layout and cabinet boxes and updates the visible elements: new doors and drawer fronts, a new benchtop, splashback, handles and sometimes appliances. A full renovation replaces the cabinetry and can change the layout, plumbing and electrical. A makeover costs less and finishes faster.

We measure the space, confirm your layout and material choices, then prepare an itemised fixed-scope quote covering cabinetry, benchtops, appliances, plumbing, electrical, tiling and finishing. Any change you request during the build is handled as a written variation so there are no surprises on the final invoice.

Yes. We plan the layout, materials, lighting and storage and produce drawings so you can see the kitchen before committing. Planning around how you actually cook and store things is what stops expensive changes once the cabinetry is being built.

Workmanship on custom cabinetry and installation is typically backed for several years, and appliance and tapware manufacturer warranties pass through to you. Your written contract states the exact warranty terms for your project. Statutory consumer protections under Victorian law apply on top of that.

We renovate kitchens right across Eastern Melbourne, including Box Hill, Doncaster, Ringwood, Glen Waverley, Camberwell, Blackburn, Nunawading, Balwyn, Mitcham, Surrey Hills, Templestowe, Vermont, Croydon, Burwood and Kew, plus the surrounding eastern suburbs.

Yes. We choose cabinetry profiles, colours, benchtops and hardware that sit with your home's era and the adjoining rooms, whether that is a streamlined handleless look for a newer Doncaster rebuild or a shaker profile for a period home in Kew.

There is a period without a working kitchen, usually a couple of weeks during the on-site stage. We sequence the work to keep that window as short as practical and protect floors and walkways. Many clients set up a temporary kitchen with the fridge and microwave elsewhere during the install.

Yes. Demolition, strip-out and rubbish removal are part of a full renovation. We protect the rest of the home during demolition and remove the old cabinetry, benchtops and appliances unless you want to retain or rehome any of them.

A butler's pantry is a secondary prep and storage area behind the main kitchen, often with a second sink, that keeps the main bench clear. Whether you have room depends on your layout. We assess it during design and only suggest one where it genuinely improves how the kitchen works.

Request a quote through the form and we arrange a measure-up at your home at a time that suits. From there we confirm the design and materials, give you an itemised written quote and a fixed-scope contract, and book in the work. There is no cost to get the initial assessment and quote.